Measles can cause blindness, Makinde warns parents

Oyo State governor, Engr Seyi Makinde has warned parents to ensure their children get vaccinated against measles to prevent blindness.

Governor Makinde spoke at the flagging off the Measles second dose vaccine campaign and its introduction into routine immunisation schedule for children at the Primary Healthcare Centre in Idi ogogo on Thursday.

The governor, speaking through the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr Adebisi Ayoola said children need to take the measle’s second dose to boost their immunity against this disease that can also kill.

According to him, measles is a highly contagious viral disease that has remains an important cause of death among young children globally, which is contracted from the air.

The governor said the vaccine is safe and free and asked mothers to ensure their children receive this second dose of measles that is now available in all primary healthcare centres and health outreach posts in the state.

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Governor Makinde ordered that the Ministry of health monitor the 5-day measles second dose vaccination campaign to ensure things go smoothly and Nigeria can eventually, eradicate measles in the country.

WHO’s representative, Dr Enya Bassey-Bassey, said there are enough doses of the vaccine in the state for children between the age of nine months and 15 months even as health workers had been trained on its administration.

Oyo State Coordinator, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mr Steve Akinrinade said the number of vaccine children is asked to take is not too much.

According to him, “the number of vaccinations is not too much, not getting vaccinated is what kills children.”